Countering a government blackout on news in Armenia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty said it has restored broadcasting on shortwave frequencies to that country.

RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin said in a statement, “It is disappointing that because of restrictions imposed by the Armenian government we have to take this step backward to an outmoded frequency we stopped using in Armenia three years ago, but I’m happy to say it is working.”

Its Armenian Service reinstated broadcasting on two shortwave frequencies after regular broadcasts on FM frequencies were taken off the air by two local affiliates, who complied with a decree by the government that allows only government-sanctioned news to be aired.

“RFE/RL is the only Armenian language foreign radio in the country,” the organization stated. “Broadcasts are now one hour daily on shortwave, instead of the previous three hours on local FM. But all programs can be heard on RFE/RL’S Armenian language Web site.”

The service also said Armenian bloggers are posting RFE/RL news and that its news programs are being posted on YouTube.